Match preview: Exeter City v Cheltenham

Jack Stacey says solid a defensive performance is the key to getting City back on track

Jack Stacey is keen for Exeter City to keep a clean sheet at home to Cheltenham Town on Tuesday as he says the amount of goals they have conceded lately hasn’t been good enough.

The Grecians have let in 14 goals in the last seven games, which has seen their promotion push take a little bit of a wobble with six points out of a possible 21 picked up.

That run has come on the back of a superb set of results which saw City keep nine clean sheets in 12 games and take 32 points from a possible 36 through late November, December and January.

Stacey says it is important City get back to winning ways on Tuesday night at St James Park and believes they key to doing that will be a strong defensive display.

“I think it is really important to get back to winning ways,” he said. “We have lost a few points recently, however a lot of teams around us have as well. So we are still in the play-offs and there is a still a massive chance of us finishing there and that has to start tomorrow against Cheltenham.”

Speaking about the need for clean sheets, Stacey added: “It is definitely something we have mentioned as we have been conceding too many goals and, for a team that wants to be up in the promotion places, it is not good enough. It is something we will work on as we want to get back to keeping clean sheets.”

Stacey is expecting a tough game from Cheltenham though. Gary Johnson’s side are 20th in League Two but have won three out of their last five matches as they battle to avoid the drop.

“It is so tight in this league and teams are battling for different things,” said Stacey. “When we played Hartlepool they needed the points to stave off relegation and we needed the points to push for the play-offs and automatic promotion. So, at the moment there is no team that is playing for nothing. Everyone wants to take the points, so nothing is easy.”

Kick-off at St James Park this evening is at 7.45pm and tickets can be purchased in advance or on the gate.